Valerie Jo McCormick Vance, 61, received her eternal healing on Friday, February 1, 2019.
She passed peacefully at home with her children by her side, and surrounded by family and friends as she moved from this life to the next.
“Momma Val” was a loving and infinitely supportive mother and grandmother, not only to her own children and grandchildren, but also to a long list of “adopted” kids; so many that it would be impossible to list them all. They know who they are and that they were deeply loved, because she never left room for that to be doubted.
Her caregiving extended beyond her children to her parents, siblings, and friends. She was always the first to step forward and help someone in need, and always did so without the desire for acknowledgment or something in return.
Her favorite place was anywhere she could be with her family and friends. She especially loved being at the softball field, keeping scorebook and cheering on “her girls,” and at the mud bog where she was known to jump in the passenger seat and go for a wild ride with one of “her boys” every chance she could get. She spent countless hours at “the pumpkin patch,” where she loved meeting people and teaching them everything she had learned about pumpkins and squash. She loved cows, tractors, and jewelry-lots and lots of jewelry. She simply loved life and blessed everyone who came to be a part of hers.
Valerie had a strong, unwavering faith, and faced her cancer battle with an indescribable grace. She worried more about how her illness affected her friends and family, rather than how it affected herself. She never complained and always reassured us that she would be healed either way, whether in life or in death. Every single day she smiled, and left it to God to determine which victory he had planned for her.
She was a loyal and passionate mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, friend, and confidant to many and she will be dearly missed. She truly made the world a better place by helping one person at a time. May we all strive to carry that forward in her honor.
She is survived by her parents Billy “Gus” and Sue McCormick of Organ Cave, WV; daughter, Heather Ratliff (John) of Lewisburg, WV; son, Steve Vance (Jamie Dilly) of Lewisburg; brothers, Dirk McCormick of Union, WV, Bill McCormick (Mindy) of Lewisburg, and Rob McCormick (Tammy Winebrimmer) of Sinks Grove, WV; sisters, Linda Stone (Chuck) of Organ Cave and Leta McCormick of Sinks Grove; granddaughters, Alyssia and Adria Ratliff and Abby Dilly; grandson, Austin Dilly; significant other, Doug Lucas of Ronceverte, WV; best friend, Wanda Hoke (Tim) of Pickaway, WV; and many nieces and nephews.
In her final act of giving, she donated her body to the human gift registry at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine in Lewisburg.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, February 23, 2019, at 5 p.m. at the WVSOM Alumni Center in Lewisburg.
In lieu of flowers, an account has been set up at BB&T for donations. Checks should be written to Heather Ratliff with “Val’s Pals” noted in the memo. Donations will be used to make care packages for patients at Blueridge Cancer Center in Low Moor, VA, and 21st Century Oncology in Lewisburg.
The family would like to extend their sincere gratitude to Drs. Belinda Smith, Matt Skelton, Joe Baisden, and their staff, Dr. VonDohlen, Dr. John Johnson, and the staff at GVMC for the excellent care and compassion provided during her illness.
Send online condolences by visiting www.WallaceandWallaceFH.com.
Obituary originally published in the February 6, 2019 edition of The West Virginia Daily News.
